Launched in 2021, Free to be Me (F2BM) marked a turning point for LGBTQI empowerment in the Philippines. Rooted in the vision of building a stronger, more inclusive movement, the program created spaces where queer joy, solidarity, and leadership could flourish. With hope and determination, it sought to nurture collaboration within the LGBTQI community and strengthen civil society’s capacity to advocate for socio-economic rights.

At its heart, F2BM recognized that nothing about us should ever be without us. Guided by this principle, the program centered local ownership and community participation from the beginning. It designated Host Organizations (HO) to lead implementation in the Philippines — first GALANG Philippines in 2021, followed by PANTAY (Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders) in 2024. This structure allowed for a grounded and localized approach to program design, with the Communities of Action (CoA) — composed of grassroots LGBTIQ+ groups from across the country — steering priorities together.

Through a participatory grantmaking mechanism (PGM), CoA members identified their own priorities and managed grants to advance initiatives across four key pathways of change:

• Building Strong Foundations (BSF): strengthening organizational capacity and resilience.

• Legal & Policy Change (LPC): lobbying and advocating for inclusive policies.

• Generating Public Support (GPS): shifting narratives and mobilizing public awareness.

• Economic Empowerment (EE): advancing socio-economic rights and tackling queer livelihood concerns.

One of F2BM’s most significant legacies was its community-centered organizing. The program amplified the voices of often-marginalized groups, including LBQT collectives, trans men, intersex Filipinos, and Deaf LGBTQI communities, and expanded networks beyond Metro Manila to regions across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Organizations such as TiboQC Federation, Intersex Philippines, Pinoy Deaf Rainbow, Mindanao Pride, San Julian Pride, and many others found platforms for visibility and solidarity through F2BM.

The program also fueled groundbreaking knowledge-building. In 2024, the CoA launched the Socio-Economic Profile of LGBTQI Filipinos study, the first of its kind in the country. This research highlighted the economic realities of queer Filipinos and catalyzed advocacy strategies for localized economic empowerment.

Beyond outputs, F2BM became a community of care. Groups supported one another, experimented with new advocacy models, and built bridges with allies, including faith-based communities. More than a network, the CoA became a support system where each voice was amplified, and each struggle was shared.